Senior Advisor - Research and Meal

JOB TITLE: Senior Advisor - Research and MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning)

POST TYPE: 2 year fixed term contract

ROLE PURPOSE: The role of the Senior Advisor is to lead the development and implementation of a national Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) strategy for Save the Children Afghanistan. In order to achieve this, the role will lead a central team and provide internal support and capacity building to implementation teams to roll out the strategy across the country programme.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Director of Programme Development, Quality and Policy

Staff reporting to this post:

Direct reports: Six (MIS Manager, M&E Coordinator, M&E Coordinator (DRR), M&E Coordinator (Health and Nutrition), M&E Coordinator (Education), Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Manager (Education)

Indirect reports: MEAL and MIS regional staff

Budget Responsibilities: None

Coordinates with: PDQ Directorate (including thematic leads and media and communications); Programme Implementation Directorate (including project staff)

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

1. Lead development and implementation of a national Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) strategy and contribute to Save the Children's overall country strategy.
2. Design, manage or support research to improve effectiveness of programmes, innovation, and to contribute to internal and external learning.
3. Lead internal capacity building for MEAL including the development and provision of trainings and mobilising internal and external capacity-building opportunities.
4. Contribute to and review project design and proposal development to ensure high quality standards are set, measurable outcomes are clear, and MEAL is adequately budgeted and resourced.
5. Lead national/global reporting processes and contribute to high quality project reporting, assisting in data quality assurance and compliance with reporting requirements.
6. Provide high quality MEAL technical support to implementation teams to develop and implement project based-M&E plans, including assessment and baseline tools, project specific monitoring tools, approaches, staff and team responsibilities and frequency of monitoring and evaluation activities.
7. Develop, review, catalogue and ensure utilisation of standardised MEAL assessment and monitoring tools, manuals, guidelines, trainings, regulations and protocols.
8. Develop and increase utilisation of accountability approaches, such as complaints and response mechanisms.
9. Develop and ensure the functioning of national Management Information System (MIS).
10. Keep abreast of MEAL sector trends and developments, for example in remote monitoring, and adapt and promote introduction of new methodologies, innovations and best practices.
11. Manage performance and professional development of team (currently six staff members) and develop team in line with strategy needs.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of 8 years' experience in development sector
• Minimum of 5 years' experience developing and implementing monitoring and evaluation strategies, including design of systems and tools, data analysis and report writing
• Previous experience of working on large scale, complex, multi-sector programmes in both emergency and development contexts and developing project based M&E systems for a range of different donors
• Extensive experience in research and monitoring and evaluation methodology and analysis (qualitative, quantitative, participatory) with in depth knowledge in the design and use of monitoring and evaluation techniques and approaches
• Significant experience in leading teams and building M&E team capacity (developing training tools, training, coaching and mentoring)
• Significant understanding of development of MIS and data and information management
• Familiarity with knowledge management systems and approaches that foster a learning culture
• Familiarity with accountability approaches
• Highly developed influencing, communication and interpersonal skills, including ability to communicate technical issues effectively and persuasively
• Excellent English communication skills, both written and verbal
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children's aims, values and principles including rights-based approaches
• A degree in a relevant field (e.g. in knowledge management, evaluation, etc) or in one or more of Save the children's thematic areas (e.g. education, public health, nutrition, child protection, child rights and emergency response)

Desirable:

• Significant experience of accountability approaches
• Significant experience of remote monitoring approaches

Location: Kabul, Afghanistan

- Full-Time

Closing date: Tuesday 11 June 2013

Click here for further details and application